What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
What is Interlibrary Loan (ILL)?
Answer
Notice: Interlibrary Loan System Upgrade
Our Interlibrary Loan service is upgrading to SHAREit on June 21, 2024. For assistance, call 832-393-1447.
The Texas State Library which supplies the software to support Interlibrary Loan has decided to replace Texas Group Catalog. They approved Shareit as the statewide Interlibrary Loan choice for Texas public libraries.
Requests placed before June 20, 2024 should be filled. At this time during the transition requests for items will not go outside of Texas. The state is working on nationwide borrowing and customers will be notified when it is available.
If we don't have what you're looking for...
Check out from other libraries using your HPL library card! With your MYLink card you can search other libraries holdings and borrow if you aren't able to find what you need through Houston Public Library.
Get Started
- Get a MYLink card
- Search SHAREit
- SHAREit Tutorial Video
- Questions? Call 832-393-1447
Things to Know
- Maximum number of active requests is five (5). This includes pending requests and items currently checked out.
- Interlibrary Loan items that are damaged and/or lost will be billed at the cost determined by the lending library.
- To request and receive ILL items, you must have a current Houston Public Library card in good standing.
- ILL materials must be checked out with your Houston Public Library card.
- Requests for items owned by Houston Public Library will be canceled even if the material is available for library-use only.
- Check out period is three (3) weeks with No Renewals.
- ILL requests will count towards the 30 hold limit on Houston Public Library materials.
- If an ILL request is received when a customer has 30 holds, the ILL cannot be processed. The customer will be notified that a hold must be cleared for the ILL request to be received.
- ILL materials may take two to six weeks to arrive. If you have questions about your request, contact the ILL department at 832-393-1447.